The main flat racing action on Tuesday comes from Leicester and the bet of the day could be Sir Michael Stoute’s Gothic in the maiden race at 5.10.
The son of Danehill Dancer is out of Riberac who was a typically tough Mark Johnston filly and I’m hopeful that he may have inherited some of her traits. He was clearly unfancied on his debut at Newmarket when sent off at 33-1 under Pat Dobbs.
After settling towards the rear, he made some progress at half-way before staying on at the one pace to finish sixth behind Mitraad. The form is hard to assess at this stage but he steps up to a mile for the first time on Tuesday and Ryan Moore is aboard. Most of Stoute’s youngsters have needed a run to put them straight this season so there could be significant improvement in him.
The dangers come from the unraced horses. Roger Charlton runs Hooded, an Empire Maker colt out of the smart Yashmak whilst Andrew Balding’s Opera Duke is also bred to be useful. Luca Cumani runs Seek A Star but the booking of Kirsty Milczarek suggests that the filly may need this first outing to sharpen her up.
Palace Dragon has had two runs but looks distinctly moderate but Mark Johnston’s Alex My Boy could certainly be a threat. He is by Dalakhani out of Oaks winner Alexandrova. Kieren Fallon is an eye-catching booking and this colt is the one that I am most wary of.
The Conditions race at 4.10 should go to Princess Loulou who won by nine lengths at Pontefract on her third start. The going was soft that day and the leaders went off at a suicidal pace, leaving Princess Loulou to come through and win at her leisure. Her three opponents look completely out of sorts but there is unlikely to be much value in the market.
Ryan Moore also has a sound chance in the opener on Balding’s Trading Profit who has been flying high in recent starts. He was unable to land a blow in the Mill Reef Stakes or the Redcar Two-year-old Trophy but should be more suited to this grade.
Gothic (5.10 Leicester)
